The stock market today will once again pit the Nasdaq against its 50-day moving average. The index has been working to retake the line since Aug. 1. It ended Wednesday up a fraction so far for the week, and not quite 3% below its July 3 high. The S&P 500 has hung well below its 50-day line since dropping through the moving average in heavy trade July 31. It ended Wednesday down 0.3% for the week, and 3.5% below its July 24 high.

Weekly jobless claims data from the Labor Department were positive, dipping to 289,000 in the week ended Aug. 2. That was down from a slightly upwardly revised 303,000 for the prior week. Analysts had forecast an uptick to 305,000. The four-week moving average declined for a fifth straight week, to its lowest level since 2006.

In stocks, Ctrip.com International (NASDAQ:CTRP) bolted 9% higher after news reports that Priceline.com (NASDAQ:PCLN) plans to invest $500 million in the online travel site. Ctrip ended Wednesday in its second test of 10-week support since clearing a cup-with-handle base in June.

Another China issue, Autohome (NYSE:ATHM), gained 3% in premarket trade. The provider of online automotive information to consumers notched a 5% gain Wednesday, and is working on its third weekly advance as it attempts to climb the right side of a possible base.

Makers of additive printing equipment advanced as a group ahead of the opening bell.

Stratsys (NASDAQ:SSYS) leapt 12% after reporting much stronger-than-expected second-quarter results and raising its full-year revenue guidance to 30% growth. Shares have fallen back below key levels of support after a brief rally in May and June.

Overseas, Asia's markets reacted to weak employment data out of Australia, and to news that Japan's public pension fund is allotting more cash to domestic stocks. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index down 0.3% and the Shanghai Composite diving 1.3% Thursday. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 gained 0.5%, its first advance of the week.

In Europe, major indexes pulled out of early losses and into mixed trade after the European Central Bank announced it would hold interest rates at current, record lows, but not implement monetary stimulus measures to counter the eurozone's stalling inflation. The yen tumbled vs. the dollar. The euro eased slightly.

The stock market today will once again pit the Nasdaq against its 50-day moving average. The index has been working to retake the line since Aug. 1. It ended Wednesday up a fraction so far for the week, and not quite 3% below its July 3 high. The S&P 500 has hung well below its 50-day line since dropping through the moving average in heavy trade July 31. It ended Wednesday down 0.3% for the week, and 3.5% below its July 24 high.

Weekly jobless claims data from the Labor Department were positive, dipping to 289,000 in the week ended Aug. 2. That was down from a slightly upwardly revised 303,000 for the prior week. Analysts had forecast an uptick to 305,000. The four-week moving average declined for a fifth straight week, to its lowest level since 2006.

In stocks, Ctrip.com International (NASDAQ:CTRP) bolted 9% higher after news reports that Priceline.com (NASDAQ:PCLN) plans to invest $500 million in the online travel site. Ctrip ended Wednesday in its second test of 10-week support since clearing a cup-with-handle base in June.

Another China issue, Autohome (NYSE:ATHM), gained 3% in premarket trade. The provider of online automotive information to consumers notched a 5% gain Wednesday, and is working on its third weekly advance as it attempts to climb the right side of a possible base.

Makers of additive printing equipment advanced as a group ahead of the opening bell.

Stratsys (NASDAQ:SSYS) leapt 12% after reporting much stronger-than-expected second-quarter results and raising its full-year revenue guidance to 30% growth. Shares have fallen back below key levels of support after a brief rally in May and June.

Overseas, Asia's markets reacted to weak employment data out of Australia, and to news that Japan's public pension fund is allotting more cash to domestic stocks. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index down 0.3% and the Shanghai Composite diving 1.3% Thursday. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 gained 0.5%, its first advance of the week.

In Europe, major indexes pulled out of early losses and into mixed trade after the European Central Bank announced it would hold interest rates at current, record lows, but not implement monetary stimulus measures to counter the eurozone's stalling inflation. The yen tumbled vs. the dollar. The euro eased slightly.

See Also

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Stocks rambled ahead Monday, with the Nasdaq crossing the 5000 mark for the first time since March 2000. The Nasdaq popped 0.9% to close just over 5008. The Dow Jones industrial average and S&P 500 added 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively. Volume was slightly lower on the Nasdaq and modestly higher on ...

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03/02/2015 04:22 PM ET

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Select market data is provided by Interactive Data Corp. Real Time Services. Price and Volume data is delayed 20 minutes unless otherwise noted, is believed accurate but is not warranted or guaranteed by Interactive Data Corp. Real Time Services and is subject to Interactive Data Corp. Real Time Services terms. All times are Eastern United States. *Reflects real-time index prices.